Hull City head coach Nigel Adkins has praised the impact made by Eric Lichaj as the versatile defender prepares to face former club Nottingham Forest for the first time this weekend.

Lichaj has wasted no time in establishing himself as a mainstay of City’s defence this season, starting all but one of 17 Championship games since joining for a cut-price fee in the region of £300,000.

The American, who celebrated his 30th birthday last Saturday, has been a consistent figure in a number of roles under Adkins and is expected to retain a lead role when facing Forest on Saturday.

Lichaj spent five years at the City Ground, racking up 190 appearances before he was eventually deemed surplus to requirements by Aitor Karanka in the summer.